Traveling in Singapore in relatively easy and convenient, there is a variety of land mode transportation that you can choose from. There are taxis, buses and the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport), each with their benefits and fair share of paradoxes, as with every country I guess.
MRT
The SMRT website has a fairly useful map, journey planner and even train timings for you to plan your journey in Singapore. Travel on the MRT has made getting to the airport made more accessible with its very own Changi Airport stop. It is also very convenient, compared with buses and taxis, as most of the MRT stops are near shopping districts and attractions.
With the Circle Line being launched and some more lines in the works, traveling in Singapore is pretty easy. Transiting between trains to get to your destination is simple enough: there are signs that will lead you to the right station. Announcements are made before every station stop, and for the newer models of trains there are lighted destination maps to let you have a clear overview of where you’re heading and which are the coming stops. It would be best to avoid the peak hour when everyone is rushing to work (7-9am) and back home after work (6-8pm). If you do find yourself traveling on the MRT at these times, be prepared for the mad rush and tight squeeze.
Please note that you can’t eat, drink or smoke on the trains or at the stations else you’d get fined (up to S$500). But such a rule has not been enforced consistently. If anything to go by, there has been a skewed sense of moderation. It would be interesting to note that some years back, after a spate of videos and photos showing youngsters flouting the rules were posted on local news sharing platform STOMP, a woman was fined S$30 for eating a sweet to relieve her motion sickness.
Please note that you can’t eat, drink or smoke on the trains or at the stations else you’d get fined (up to S$500). But such a rule has not been enforced consistently. If anything to go by, there has been a skewed sense of moderation. It would be interesting to note that some years back, after a spate of videos and photos showing youngsters flouting the rules were posted on local news sharing platform STOMP, a woman was fined S$30 for eating a sweet to relieve her motion sickness.
But that was a couple of years ago... Now you have what you can and cannot do clearly listed down for you, just in case you forget. If you choose to use purchase a single ticket, instead of the EZlink card please remember to get back your deposit of S$1 by slotting it into the ticket machine. Fares are based on distance.
Buses
There are two bus operators in Singapore SBS and SMRT. Fares paid with the EZlink card are cheaper than if you were to use cash. When using the EZlink card you have to remember to tap in (when boarding) and tap out (when alighting). Fail to do this and the full fare for the whole bus journey (from point a to z) will be charged, instead of just the distance you want to travel (point a to c).Buses would be the next best mode of transport (in terms of affordability) after the MRT. If you know where you are going or where you want to go, it shouldn’t be that hard to find your way with all the available maps and asking around.
Taxis
While still affordable, this mode of transport is the dearest of the lot and with the recent increase (the last one was in 2007) is starting to become one of the most expensive ways to travel around the island.
If you don’t know already, the Chrysler Black Limousine taxis from SMRT are the most expensive of the bunch, with a meter rate that is equally as expensive. The normal flag down cost of this type of taxi is S$5 and the meter is extremely fast, a destination that would cost under S$10, would be more than S$15 (almost twice the usual fare) in this taxi. The premium price is supposedly for a more “comfortable and quieter ride”.
Taxi Operator Contact Details:
- ComfortDelgro, 6552 1111
- SMRT, 6555 888
- Silver Cab, 6363 6888
- TransCab, 6555 3333
- Prime Taxi, 6778 0808
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